Knights For Mundika
11

"Father, Mother, I got accepted to work as an engineer for one of the oil companies in Dubai!" Artika screamed loudly while going down the stairs to the family room on the ground floor of the two-story house and minimalist style with a Javanese atmosphere that was so thick on the ornaments in it that was beautiful in the house the outskirts of Jakarta.

"Finally my dream of working abroad was achieved! In Dubai again!" Artika hugged her mother who had just put a snack in the form of a plate of fried bananas and a cup of hot black coffee in front of her husband who was reading the newspaper this Saturday morning. He forgot to hug his father. How unhappy, his dream to work for a company in the Middle East that is rich in petroleum is his dream since long ago. He is not dissatisfied with a career as an engineer in one of the SOEs engaged in the field of petroleum and gas, but this is more like fulfilling a passion that has been burning in his heart.

"Oalah Nduk, Nduk, tak kiro opo..get-geti wae..," Jayanti sighed as she stroked her chest and sat on the sofa to the right where her husband, Janitra, was sitting. He took a television remote and turned it on.

"Mom and Dad agreed, right?" Artika stared in full supplication.

"Do you have to stay in Indonesia? After all your career is also on the rise, while your grandmother works in Dubai, there you do not know anyone," Jayanti responded to Artika's question. "Mas mu Hadyan has chosen to work for an oil company in America there, then do you have the heart to leave the Father and Mother together with only Simbok De here?"

"But ma'am, even though my career is good here, my, father's shadow as one of the company's officials makes me have to be independent and work abroad, especially Dubai is my chance to show our extended family that I really have the ability without the help of Mr," Artika uses her power as the youngest child of the Hadiwijaya family to sulk to her father if her mother has started to show her disapproval every time she makes a decision for her future. "After all, there I will not worry about salary and housing problems because the facilities provided are very complete and I will be able to know many people from different nations and countries so that I can open my horizons more broad-based. Plus Dubai is a modern Middle Eastern city, so God willing is safe and peaceful. Do you agree with my opinion? So please allow sir.can ya..."

Janitra folded the newspaper from the moment she read it and placed it on the table in front of her. He admitted that Artika is his weakness, especially if the daughter who used to be highly anticipated for ten years since her son was born has issued a death sentence. I don't want him to agree. "Here you go, ma'am, it's only permissible for our son to work abroad. There are also many Indonesians who work in that place and Mr. Artika sure can take care of himself. Remember yo Nduk, ojo lali karo toto kromomu, if you need to show that we are a civilized nation so it cannot be underestimated by other nations."

"Thank you, Father" Artika hugged her father tightly. "The meaning of loving Father!"

"This child, if there is a desire, must continue to pursue," Jayanti finally relented and obeyed the will of her husband and youngest daughter. He rubbed the black crown of Artika. "Iyo Nduk, I lamented, the important thing is that you are happy and do not forget the message that your Father conveyed. Do not forget to always send news and if you have been allowed leave you come home here to visit Father and Mother."

"Every mother dear," Artika raised her right hand and pressed it against her right forehead as if paying her respects. "Thank you for giving his blessing, Artika will always keep the trust of Father and Mother.” He embraced both parents.

***

"Are you really going to move to Dubai? Don't you love your career here?" Ask Ayu while taking the pieces of dark chocolate cake she ordered.

"Hu-um," replied Artika casually while enjoying her favorite venti size cold matcha latte. "No pity at all. I'm happy to finally be able to stay away from my parents to become an independent person."

Currently they are in a coffee shop one of the malls in central Jakarta.

"Wantas your relationship with Indra how? Would you just decide?"

"I had a good conversation with him, and we decided to go our own way because he could not afford to have an LDR relationship and follow my ambitions."

"Oh my goodness, and you answered him so casually?" Ayu is not in the least mind with this close cousin. Lovers relationship with Indra who has been running two years like the wind and then just broke up. He realized that his cousin was a very ambitious figure in pursuing his goals. But if to sacrifice his feelings is really excessive according to him. "What do you think of your relationship with Indra? What good is it to live and work in Dubai?"

"You will understand if you are in my position who is the youngest daughter," Artika replied calmly because this has been prepared everything carefully. Ayu does not know that Indra is an authoritarian figure so that he makes himself crowded during the run of their relationship. One reason to break this relationship is with him away to a place that is impossible to reach Indra considering the phobia of boarding the plane he experienced. "Some of the companies I work for in Dubai are where my dreams have been all along. So I felt like I had to reach for her to open the door to my future that was somehow..."

"Thank you Ayu, you're my best cousin. Later if you have time I'll explore Dubai and its surroundings."

"Eh, by the way, don't-don't your Dubai mate anymore, Arab anyway," Ledek Ayu. "They're famous for their good looks."

"Ish, I still like local Yu products, do not like the same Arab ones like that even though there I will work for them," Artika wagged her right hand. "As my Father and Mother said, I must uphold the customs of our family..."

"Be careful with the talk, turn around yourself..."

"Don't get to Yu, amit-amit, I just want to have a professional relationship with them."

Ayu and Artika laughed. It was the last time he saw the figure of his cousin being as free and cheerful as that. While staring at the old photo that shows his familiarity with Artika first, Ayu stared sadly when remembering her past with her cousin. He did not expect the speech rejected outright by Artika was right to turn to him. His cousin fell in love with the native man of Dubai with the drama that ended he had to leave his parents in disrespect of the manners he had been so proud of and follow the man by becoming a wife both of them.

"Already Yu, do not burden your mind about Artika again," Randi grasped Ayu's left hand. The injuries from the accident have recovered and now it is time for them to return to Indonesia. "You can't constantly think about Artika's life and the path she has chosen. Even her brother Hadyan had given up on it and thought her sister was long gone. Didn't Artika herself convey her heart a few days ago when visiting here?"

"But Mas, I want my niece to know that they have grandparents who hope to be visited by them one day. I want to bring my family back to life..."

Randi just took a deep breath in the face of the persistence of his dear wife. He understood that Artika was Ayu's favorite brother considering himself an only child. But with the accident, he thinks it is a warning that Ayu must stop her intentions and focus on their small family. It was enough sacrifice that his wife had made for Artika who might not have thought it existed.

"Good afternoon Bu Ayu," Mundika's visit with several nurses became the savior of the debate between Randi and Ayu.

"Good afternoon Doctor," Reply Randi. "Does the doctor come here to tell you that my wife is cured and ready to return to our country?"

"Father already knows yes," Mundika was a little surprised by Randi's remark but she tried to cover up with her professional smile as a doctor. "That's right, tomorrow morning Bu Ayu can already get out of the hospital. Congratulations Bu Ayu, hopefully Mother in the future is more careful so that the same accident does not occur."

"Thank God, then," replied Randi full of relief because they both can immediately return to Indonesia as soon as possible and forget what happened here.

Ayu was a little unwilling if she could no longer communicate with the nephew in front of her. He begged to be left behind and talked alone with Mundika before he could not do it again. At least he should try until the last second.

"I've met my cousin Artika, and from her I have information that I have two nieces, a daughter and a boy. For the woman I've seen her and she's grown into a beautiful and intelligent girl with a myriad of achievements just like Artika when young."

Mundika was shocked in silence while listening to the outpouring of her aunt's day. He did not expect his mother would come to see his aunt in the hospital.